My Journey at DYPIEMR: A Transformative Campus Experience

D. Y. Patil Institute of Engineering, Management & Research (DYPIEMR) is a place where academic learning meets practical exposure. As an AI & DS student, my journey here has been full of ups and downs, but it shaped me into who I am today. The college has a supportive faculty, decent infrastructure, and a growing tech culture that helps students prepare for industry challenges.

From First Year to Final Year

First Year: Stepping Into the Unknown

Like most freshers, I entered college with excitement but also a lot of confusion. Initially, it felt like an extension of school—attending lectures, making new friends, and adjusting to the new environment. I had heard about DSA, DevOps, and ML, but everything seemed overwhelming. However, I soon realized that self-learning is the key. I started exploring platforms like GeeksforGeeks, LeetCode, and GitHub, which later became my core learning resources.

Second Year: Finding My Path

This was the year I truly fell in love with coding and problem-solving. I started solving DSA problems, built my first web projects using Flask and MySQL, and got familiar with Git, Linux, and Docker. I also explored DevOps, which helped me understand how software is deployed in real-world environments.

One of the best things about this year was participating in coding contests and hackathons. While I didn’t win initially, the experience taught me collaboration, debugging under pressure, and thinking beyond textbook knowledge.

Third Year: Building and Implementing

By this time, I had a clearer roadmap for my future. I started working on Machine Learning and Deep Learning, learning frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow. My focus shifted towards projects, internships, and real-world applications. I also took a deep dive into CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and cloud platforms, which connected my knowledge of DevOps with software deployment.

This was also the year I became a Campus Mantri for GeeksforGeeks, where I organized weekly coding sessions, workshops, and mentorship programs for juniors. It helped me sharpen my leadership and mentoring skills while giving back to the college community

College Environment

The college environment is decent, with supportive faculty and good labs, but it could improve in terms of practical exposure and industry-oriented training. Most learning still depends on self-exploration rather than traditional academics.

College Fests & Hackathons

DYPIEMR hosts some good technical and cultural events, including hackathons, coding contests, and guest lectures. Participating in these helped me network with like-minded people and improve my problem-solving skills.

Placements: Reality Check

Placements are a mix of mass recruiters and some mid-level companies. If you want a high-paying ML, AI, or DevOps role, self-preparation, projects, and internships are crucial. I realized that startups and off-campus opportunities provide better growth for roles in AI, ML, and cloud technologies.

Final Thoughts

What I Learned?

• DSA & Problem-Solving – Essential for placements.
• Machine Learning & Deep Learning – Practical knowledge matters.
• DevOps & CI/CD – Industry-oriented skills give an edge.
• Self-Learning is Key – The best students are those who go beyond textbooks.

What Could Be Better?

• More industry exposure and hands-on projects.
• Better internship opportunities through college.
• More focus on open-source and cloud technologies.

Overall, DYPIEMR gave me a strong foundation, but the real learning came from self-practice, side projects, and continuous exploration. Now, as I step into the industry, I feel confident in my skills and ready for new challenges!